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Hi there - I am planning on getting a 12 and was looking to the collective wisdom on this site about the best clubs in my area.
I used to sail an RS600 but want to introduce my girlfriend (a non sailor) to sailing and felt that a 12 would give me enough excitement while not putting her off too quickly!


General thoughts / requirements-
I am based in Bristol, but my parents live in Devon nr Chagford so places within easy striking distance of Chagford would allow me to combine a sailing weekend with a visit to the parents, so this can mitigate distance from Bristol to some extent.
I will mostly be a weekend sailor and will consider travelling and camping for a weekend of sailing

I prefer sailing on an estuary / sea

The surrounding environment is an important part of sailing for me (I didn't enjoy Grafham for example) as it was bleak and unexciting.  Also an attractive enviornment is important in encouraging my girlfriend.


My current list of possibles is:

Chew - the local one - not really not my favorite.  I sailed there about 15 years ago and did not fit in (felt a little...err.. snooty...? apologies to any Chew sailors!)
Langedfedd - Chew but more relaxed?  Still very close - I could get there in 40 mins but are there any 12's there? 
Starcross - 1.5hrs for me but only 40 mins from my parents so if the sailing is good and there are a few 12's about then it is an attractive option.

Beer - 1.5 hrs for me again. I just went there once at it looks like a stunning place.  Are there any 12's?

Does anyone have any view on these clubs or any other suggestions that I should look at?  Salcome was also on my radar, but I think that it is just a bit too far.
Thanks in advance,
Ben

Thanks again to everyone for the info.  Very useful - I think I am pursueding myself to make a strip cedar boat.
 
Gary - it sounds like you have a bit of prior experience in the strip cedar approach - I will PM you when I get closer to starting with a few questions if that is OK?

Ben

Thanks for all the replys,

John M. Thanks for emailing Bim directly.

MikeyC - at the minute I am considering different options and buying a bare hull is one of them...        The engineer in me would like to design his own though (learning from the designs that are already out there).  I have a few months before I move back to the UK so I have time to spend researching  hull designs.

My most favored approach currently is trying to build a hull using cedar strip construction which would seem to give the most flexibility for the design.

Does anyone have a view as to how competitive a ply vs cedar strip vs glass construction can be?

Thanks again for the responses.

Ben

Hi there,

I am new to the community, and a potential new 12 sailor.  

In particular I am interested in trying to make my own hull (I made a Mirror from a kit when I was younger which was immensely satisfying) and I wanted to find out if it is possible to get designs for some of the more recent hull shapes (I am particularly interested in the foolish as well as Bims more recent designs) so that I could make something that might be reasonably competative.  

I don't know if these designs are freely available or if they can be obtained for a fee, but if anyone has any information or could forward my request to someone who may be able to help then I would be most grateful.

In addition if there are any other DIYers out there I would love the opportunities to share tips (well err... I guess I don't really have any yet but...) to avoid the obvious pit falls.

Perhaps I'll see you on the water in the not too distant future?

Ben